Player Lowdown

Strengths Weaknesses

STRENGTHS: Controlled athleticism with swivel hips and natural balance, staying low in his pedal with smooth transitional skills?patient, light footwork to plant-and-drive on plays in front of him?competes for the ball in the air with springs in his legs.

Uses his eyes well to track, showing natural awareness ? heady, alert and carries himself with confidence?aggressive angles to cut off routes, working hard to gain body position ? feisty to work around blocks?gets physical at the LOS and isn?t afraid to jam?reliable ballskills and good ball production in college with 33 passes defended and 8 interceptions?highly intelligent and processes information very well?active on ST coverages as a gunner?durable and experienced in zone, press and off man (35 career starts).

WEAKNESSES: Marginal size and strength and will be out-matched in coverage with his narrow torso, lean build and shorter-than-ideal arm length and wingspan?inconsistent in run support with below average body and limb power?too much of a hitter and needs to consistently wrap up ? unreliable finisher at the contact point.

Needs to do a better job getting his head turned down the field to locate quicker?will attract flags with his tendency to extend his arms into receivers?will be taken away by blockers on the perimeter?all of his experience has come at a lower level of competition (FCS).

--Dane Brugler

Player Overview

A two-star DB recruit, James received attention from several FCS-level programs out of high school, including some Ivy League schools, ultimately committing to Maine over Stony Brook. After redshirting in 2009 and seeing limited time as a back-up in 2010, he emerged as a starter in 2010 with a career-high 50 tackles. James started every game as a junior and senior, combining for 26 passes defended ? earned First Team All-CAA honors in 2013. He has impressive natural speed, light feet and a fluid body type, but his lack of bulk and muscle are big question marks for his NFL development. James is very smart on and off the field and has developing instincts to go with his natural athletic traits, but needs to become more consistent as a tackler. He looks like a future nickel CB, who should be ready to contribute by year two ? might be a surprise top-100 pick.

05/12/2014 - A closer look at the Vikings' picks: Round 6/184 - Kendall James, CB, 5-10, 180, Maine...Known as a fast, quick-twitch corner with decent size and 4.4 speed. Drawbacks physically include shorter arms and small hands. The Vikings will use him to compete for the third cornerback position with veterans Josh Robinson, Shaun Prater and possibly Exum. - The Sports Xchange